Elevator



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. H. RICHARDS. ELEVATOR.

No. 541 683. Patented June 25, 1895.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. H. RICHARDS.

ELEVATOR.

No. 541,683. atented June 25 18 95.

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'J.- H. RICHARDS. I

ELEVATUR.

No. 541,683. Patented June 25, 1895.

UNITED STATES-- {PATENT OFFICE.

JO SIAS H.-RICHARDS, OF ELMIRA, NEl/V YORK.

ELEVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 541,683, dated June 25,1895.

Application filed Ma y 6, 1895. Serial No. 543,193. (No model) To allwhom it may (imam- Be it known that I, J OSIAS H. RICHARDS, a citizen ofthe United'States, residing at Elmira, in the county ofOhemung andStateof, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElevators; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,

clear, and exact description of the same, ref-' erence being had to theannexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to theletters of reference marked thereon. H

The present invention has relation to that class of stationary orportable elevators adapted for raising or lowering any kind ofmerchandise or for any like purpose for which such an elevator may befound useful.

It is the object of the invention to provide a simple and effectivemeans for raising or lowering the elevator platform, means for adjusting the platform to bring it to a horizontal position, and means foradjusting the height of the casters to bring the elevator to a level orhorizontal position upon uneven floors or adapt it to the "unevenness ofthe ground upon which the elevator rests.

The invention consists in a portable or sta-' tionary elevatorconstructed substantially as shown in the drawings and hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents a side elevation of an elevatorconstructed in accordance with my invention, the platform thereof beingshown in a lowered position ready to receive its load or merchandise;Fig. 2, a side elevation at right angles to that of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, ahorizontal section taken on line a; acof Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a verticalsection taken on line y y of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a detail view on anenlarged scale, showing a portion of the elevator-platform andsprocket-chain and means employed for leveling the platform; Fig. 6, avertical section thereof; Fig. 7, a detail view partly in sectionshowing one of the casters and means for adjusting it.

In the accompanying drawings A represents four upright beams orstandards either of wood or metal, but preferably of channel or angleiron, which together form or constitute the frame of the elevator whichmay be of any suitable size or height. The elevator frame may bestrengthened by truss-rods a and at its lower end by bracesaof heavyangle-iron which hold the upright beams rigid.

I'have described one of many forms of elevator frames that maybe used inconnection with the features embodying my invention, and consequentlysuch frame may be variously modified or changed in its details ofconstruction and any formof frame may be substituted without departingfrom the principle ofmy invention. 2

Connected to the frame near its lower end are suitable horizontal beamsB, the ends of which project beyond the sides of the elevator frame and.have connected thereto suitable casters 0. I

To adapt the elevator frame to any incline in the floor or ground uponwhich such frame is to rest or any unevenness therein so' that the framewill assume atru e horizontal position, rest on the floor'or groundperfectly level, or otherwise enable the frame to be brought in properposition for the operation of the elevertically adjusting the casters.The means herein employed and which are considered the most simple andpractical, consist in the adjusting screw 12 with suitable means foroperating or turning the screw, as shown at c. In Fig. 7 of the drawingsis shownmore clearly one-of the casters and its connections, the

adjusting screw b engaging with a screw threaded hole in a'bushing D,which bushing is connected to the end of the beam B. There are four ofthese casters 0 which may be of any of the usual forms and by turningthe screw b in the proper direction, the caster will be raised orlowered and will in turn raise or lower that end of the frame as theunevenness in the floor or ground requires, thereby leveling theelevator frame sothat it will assume a horizontal position, and thusadapt it to uneven floors or to any unevenness in the ground. upon whichthe elevator rests. Any suitable and well known means may be employedfor vertically adjusting the casters although that shown is consideredthe most simple andpractical.

Near the lower end of the elevator frame is a horizontal worm shaft 01which is supported in suitable bearings e upon the frame, or in anyother manner connected thereto that will enable said shaft to, revolveupon its axis. This shaft has two worms as shown atf, which are madefast to shaft d, one of said worms having a right hand thread and theother worm a left hand thread and engage respectively the worm-wheels Eupon separate shafts g. The shafts g extend horizontally and at rightangles to the shaft d and are located between the upright beams orstandardsA and have their bearings therein, as shown in Fig. 3- of thedrawings. The worm-sh aft (1 is operated by means of sprocket-chains h,which chains engage with sprocket-wheels F upon the ends of the shaftand with sprocket Wheels G upon short shafts 't respectively. The shafts'i have their bearings in plates H adjustably connected to the beams orstandards A upon opposite sides of the frame,and are rendered adjustableby elongated slots 7c and bolts Zor by any other well known means, thisadjustment enabling any slack in the sprocket-chain to be taken up. Theshort shafts t' at their ends are flat sided to receive a suitablecrankhandle Iforturning said shaft. On the shafts '5 between thesprocket-wheels G and plates H, are suitable gear wheels K which areadapted to engage with larger gear wheels L upon short shafts m, whichshafts also have their bearings in the adjustable plates H. The shafts mat their ends are also fiat sided to receive the crank-handles I, whichare transferred from the shafts z to the shafts on when it is desired toincrease the speed of the worm shaft (:1 in raising or lowering theelevator platform hereinafter described.

At the upper end of the elevator frame and upon each side thereof is asprocket-wheel M, said wheels having bearings in platesN which areadjustably connected to the beams or standards Afor the purpose oftaking up any slack in the sprocket chains 19, which chains engage withthe sprocketwheels M and also sprocket Wheels 0 upon the same shaftswhich carry the worm wheels E. The plates or brackets N may be renderedvertically adj ustable in any suitable and well known manner, such forinstance, as slots at in the beams or standards, and bolts and nuts, asshown at 0. The sprocket-chains p are fastened to the elevator platformP, which platform may be of any preferred construction, and as thesprocket-chains move up or down, the platform will be carried with them.

In carrying heavy Weights or from other causes, it frequently happensthat the platform will become out of level and to bring it back to alevel or horizontal position, there is provided adjusting screw orscrewsB. These screws are pivoted to laterally extending ears 7' upon one ofthe links of the sprocket-chain p and extend down through plates 3secured. to the elevator-platform P. Nuts 13 and to engage with thescrews R above and below the plate 8, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of thedrawings, and by screwing up the nuts on the screws or turning them inthe proper direction, the platform P can be leveled or brought to ahorizontal position. I have. shown what is considered the most simplemeans of adjusting the elevator platform, although other means may beprovided or any change or modification therein may be made as would 5come within ordinary mechanical skill.

The elevator platform P is provided with suitable guide-rollers S whichbear against the beams or standards A and decrease the friction when theplatform is in motion.

The platform P has transverse bars Q7 which are suitably connectedthereto and with the ends of said bars slotted which project over thesides of the platform. The slotted ends of these bars are to admit thepins or claws w upon the under side of skid-arms T to engage therewith,or any suitable device may be connected to the platform and in anymannerfound most convenient that will enable the merchandise to be easilyloaded on the platform. The arms T may be conveniently detached from thebars 1; and connected to the opposite end of said bars as circumstancesrequire in loading from either side of the frame or platform.

The devices employed for operating the elevator-platform, consisting ofthe worm-shaft, the worm-wheels, sprocket wheels and chains,

as well as the meansfor leveling or adjusting the elevator platform; maybe employed, on a stationary as well as a portable elevator; the shaftwith its double right and left hand worms being considered of materialimportance as it is more effective in its operation besides preventingall end thrust or end friction. When the crank-handles I are turned, theworm-shaft 61 will be operated through the medium of the sprocket-chainsh and the sprocket-wheels F G with which they engage. The worm shaft 01being thus operated, the worms f thereon will in turn operate theworm-wheels E and turn the shafts g to which said wheels are connected.The shafts g being operated as above described will revolve thesprocket-wheels O, and as said, sprocket wheels engage with thesprocket-chainsp, said chains will be raised or lowered and carry withthem the elevator platform P.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An elevator consisting of a suitable upright frame, a suitableplatform, and means for operating said platform, consisting of ahorizontal shaft and a right and a left hand worm thereon, means foroperating said shaft, transverse shafts connecting with the platformthrough sprocket-chains and wheels, and worm-wheels upon the transverseshafts engaging with the rightand left hand worms, substantially asandfor the purpose set forth.

2. Anelevator consisting of a suitable upright frame, a suitableplatform, and means for operating said platform, consisting of ahorizontal shaft havingaright and aleft hand ICC TIO

worm thereon, transverse shafts having wormwheels engaging said worms,sprocket wheels upon the transverse shaft, sprocket-chains secured tothe platform and engaging the sprocket wheels, and means for operatingthe worm-shaft, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. An elevator consisting of a suitable upright frame, a suitableplatform, sprocketwheels and chains for operating the platform, andmeans for securing the platform to the chains and leveling saidplatform, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. An elevator, consisting of a suitable upright frame, a suitableplatform, sprocket chains and wheels for operating said platform, andmeans for adjusting or leveling the platform, comprising adjustingscrews pivoted to cars upon one of the links of the chain, the screwsextending down through plates projecting from the platform, and nutsengaging with the screws above and below the plates,

substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. An elevator, consisting of a suitable upright frame, a suitableplatform, means for operating the platform, consisting of a shaft havingright and left hand worms thereon, transverse shafts having worm-wheelsto engage with the worms, s rocket wheels and chains connecting tlietrnsverse shafts with the platform, means for operating the wormshaft,means for adjusting the platform, and casters upon the lower end of theframe and means for vertically adjusting them, substan tially as and forthe purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

JOSIAS H. RICHARDS. Witnesses:

L. A. MERRILL, JAMESR. CoLBURN.

